It’s almost mid-winter, and the sun has barely risen. There are no roses left in the garden, so I’m looking back at photos for this year’s favourites.

I know what roses I’ve planted, but there are many more plants in the garden that will always remain a mystery.

My favourite of those that I know is the “Keep Smiling” rose. It’s a variety that we first encountered at the Regents Park rose garden, and it’s bright yellow blooms caught my eye as it was still in flower in November. Planted as a bare root last winter, it’s doing well, and still flowers in November.

The beautiful raindrops add an extra sparkle.

Number 2 is a lost label rose, which is entirely down to my poor garden housekeeping. I  bought it as a bargain bareroot plant at Woolworths many years back, and it never lets me down. No idea what it’s called though…

Number 3, is another mystery, planted by the previous owner. I love the shades of orange pink on this one, and I refer to it as tequila sunrise…

My 4th highlight from the collection is this gorgeous frilly number, possibly a David Austin Desdemona, although it’s another inherited plant with a long lost label. Although these blooms have a tendency to droop they are simply fabulous and have a marvellous aroma.

And my fifth and final selection, a deep red rose with frilly petals, these are mysterious beauties that the previous owner chose very well…

I don’t mind at all not knowing exactly what these roses are. A bit of mystery doesn’t make them less beautiful.

In fact, I’ve just received a dozen bareroot ‘lost label’ roses which I bought as a bargain this summer. Over the next few days I’ll plant them out for next year. Who knows what will emerge, but it will be fun to find out!

As ever, I hope that your plans and plants are coming along well, and you will have plenty of roses in 2019.

Jen x